The Gaming Giant Hires Apex Legends Lead to Revitalize Challenged Action Game Ambitious Title

2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Lukewarm Reception

Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure informed team members about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the necessity for a distinct vision.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed vision, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Strategic Hires

The news echoes a similar move taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete content from Ismailer's communication:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to endure.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a more distinct identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the feedback to consideration and overhauled the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our audience.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

His guidance and background in the PVP shooter field is considerable, having dedicated the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep observing the progress of the game in the weeks to ahead.

David

Background of the New Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description reads. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and tests that change every session. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and trust your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced release date or supported systems, but fans can expect additional details as creation advances.